#subconscious pull

    It was a mess. Despite the lights being low his superhero abilities showed him that much. Even without them he thought he might still be able to tell that much. Marinette had quickly disappeared from her bed turning on a lamp when she reached the floor of the room. Looking around Chat took in what he took from atop the bed. Pieces of test fabrics were thrown about the floor coving what little was left as a number of dress forms took up spaces half finished dressed pined to their shapes. Each design seemed to shape some common theme, whether it was color or style. Chat had been in her room before, but that had been as Adrien, and seen a dress form then as well. Looking to Marinette he wondered if what the girl was wearing now was something she had designed too.

    As Chat looked down at the girl thought he saw the way a single eyebrow raised on her face as she watched him. Violently thrown back into the reality of the situation Chat blushed as he closed the roof hatch and descended to the chassis. Finding it mostly uncovered by fabric or pins Chat sat giving Marinette a sheepish grin.

    “I’m sorry,” Marinete said watching the boy crawl down the stairs on all fours. She hadn’t meant to leave everything out, but she also hadn’t thought she would be entertaining guest that night. “I’ve been busy trying to figure out what to do for this dumb contest I entered,” She huffed collecting up some of the fabric from the floor and stacking it. “I’m just stuck is all,” giving the same sheepish grin back to the boy,” I just really want to do well is all, and everything I do just seems to be the same.”

    Chat grinned humming as he stood. Circling each mannequin he took them in; some he could see were she was headed, others were so new he had no idea what might come of them, but one was finished. Stepping forward he moved to get a closer view. “Chat wait,” Marinette called out as she realized what he was studying. She reached out to stop the boy from moving closer a second too late.

    The dress was black from top to bottom accented with silver. A matted silver scarf draped around the off the shoulder neckline . The top was tight, but with proper give, till it meet the waistline, pulled tight with a silver band that seemed to have to no seam. The skirt itself seemed to flare out some till just above the knee. A second layer of transparent black fabric layered overtop of the first so that when it moved, a shadow of the skirt would flow just behind it. No visible seams and a zipper that took even him a moment to find showed just how much skill was in its design. It was a wonderful pieces and the scarf not only seemed to finish off the look but make the piece both functional for the warm days and cold nights they were currently experiencing. “If this,” he gestured to the dress, “Doesn’t meet your standards Princess. Than I have no doubt whatever you choose to enter will be purrfect.”  He smiled circling the dress once more as he reapplied the scarf to it, “Dare I go as far to say this would even impress Gabriel Agreste himself!” Eyes brimming as he look at the girl. Her arms folded around her, face a light shade of red as she looked at the floor.

    How had he done it? How had he said every fear that was screaming in her head as if it were nothing. She only had a few days left to submit a dress and he had gone up to the one inspired by him. His stupid puns did little to hid the fact that he believed Gabriel might even like her design; if only. Collecting herself she looked up at the boy shaking her head, “Was the pun actually necessary, or was that just your attempt to try and get more cookies out of me? Because if so, it has had the opposite effect kitty.” She hoped he hadn’t seen, that she could play it off as just her disdain for his attempt at humor.

    “Princesses you do wound me!” Chat feigned putting the back of his hand to his temple as he leaned back of her chaise. His eyes beginning to water, “Oh what is a poor tomcat such as I to do,” folding forward over himself before rolling head first onto his back, “I guess if I must then I will chase mice for what little food I can.” Turning his face to the side he lay out limbs spread upon the floor, each in a different way. For good measure he stuck his tongue out letting it fall as it would. Seconds ticked by without a sound before Chat dared open an eye. He knew something he said had affected Marinette but he didn’t expect the silent treatment. As he saw the world once more from the view of a single eye a bright flash blinded him.

    Sitting upright the boy looked to Marinette. She was crouched over covering her mouth with a hand, while in the other she still held her phone. A muffled laugh escaped her mouth as her legs crumbled beneath her. Chat rolled his eyes grabbing one of the test cloths throwing it at Marinette. Having forgotten to crumple it up the fabric fell short, only causing Marinette close her eyes and laugh harder. Chat frowned,  his tail wimping about, picking up a second piece of fabric he made sure to ball it first.

    “Princess I don’t think it would be wise to keep that photo,” Chat grinned his eyes focused into slits.

    Calming down as much as she could she Marinette smirked right back,“Oh I’m sure Ladybug would love this picture.” Bringing her hand up to her chin she looked toward the ceiling humming, “Or even Ayla, I think you might know her she runs the Ladyblog you know. She would just have a field day with this, ‘Local Tomcat Does Tricks For Food’. Probably be a top hit even.” She looked back down toward the black clad boy only to be meet with a face full of rough fabric.

    “I don’t think that would be a wise idea princess,” Chat said, his voice happy but with a slight edge. Now crouched on all fours across from Marinette, a New piece of cloth balled in hand. The hardest part was keeping himself from laughing at the stunned girl. She looked confused a moment more before determination filled in her eyes and she set her phone down.

    Marinette readied picking up cloth of her own. That dumb cat had started all this with his stupid comments and overly dramatic actions. What other choice had she had, but to get what blackmail she could on him. But now war had been declared. Normally she might only have acted this way with Chat if she was Ladybug, but she had been challenged and she was not willing to back down. The hardest part was going to be winning without her parents waking up. Having long since gone to bed as to open the bakery in time tomorrow morning.

    For a moment both held their cloth balled in hand, neither making another move. Chat was unsure if anything more would come, or if they could settle it without hitting each other. Lowering his guard he opened his mouth just as Marinette threw her first cloth. Caught off guard the cloth sailed straight into his open mouth. Mumbling through the fabric Chat watched Marinette smirk.

    “Something wrong kitty,” she asked face coy as she blinked at the boy.

    Chat frowned spitting out the cloth,“Alright Princess, but just because I am a savior of Paris does not mean I will go easy on you.” Dodging as he finished another ball flying right by him. Lashing out Chat threw a barash of clothing at Marinette, moving ever so closer to the phone. Marinette dodging and returning fire just as easily. Yet Chat continued his progression. The gap between the two shrinking from across the room to no more than a meter. The only sound  in the room being the thumping of cloth of the floor and arms flailing. Both keeping such perfect composure despite how they wanted to cry out with laughter.

    Now with Chat so close it became less about aim and more about speed. Marinette held the upper hand, sitting still she could throw much faster compared to Chat as he worked his way closer. Abandoning his crawl the boy pounced forward for the phone just as Marinette realized his goal. Closing her hand atop the phone mere milliseconds before Chat could. A ball of cloth still in her right hand as she looked to the boy arm still outstretched.

    Looking at the smirking girl, Chat was not amused. Reaching the rest of the way forward, before she could react, he grabbed Marinette’s arm. Without thinking the boy pulled the unbalanced girls arm aside to reveal the hidden phone. Unprepared for her arms sudden movement, Marinette was sent sprawling on the floor with a gasp and soft hit.

    A hurt moan right in her ear sent a chill down her spine. Opening her eyes Marinette assessed the situation. She had reached across her body to cover her phone. Chat had been laying on his back before reaching out with his far arm. He then proceeded to pull  her arm away from the phone. This had sent her falling, but she hit something soft and not the floor. Now she had heard Chat’s voice, what was left of it, in her ear. All at once she realized what, or more accurately who, was beneath her.

    Chat was regretting his most recent decision. He had reacted without thinking, causing Marinette to fall on top of him. The whole fight had lasted only a moment or two, but in the position they were in now Chat was unsure now how much time had passed.  Frozen Chat contemplated what he should do next as Marinette rose to her hands. Her hair brushing his face as she did. He looked into her eyes, blue and bright and wonderful, framed by a speckle of freckles. Her lips pink and so close he could feel her breath on his skin. Neither one moving any further as Marinette looked back at the boy. Impossibly green eyes behind the tinted glass and bright teeth. A second longer passed before, like some spell had been broken, both reddened.

    Marinette scrambled up as Chat attempted to slide back. “Sorry,” Chatt said, Marinette almost falling back over him, “wasn’t thinking, sorry.” He had not meant to pull her on top of him at all. He’d only meant to move her hand so he could reach the accursed phone.

    “I’ll go get the cookies,” Marinette said jumping up and heading down the stairs. What had that been, She thought mentally kicking herself, he was her partner for god’s sake. She shouldn’t have been so stunned; or at least she should have moved away sooner. Having arrived at the counter she started setting up a plate with cookies, she continued to think. Why hadn’t she been able to just get away from those green eyes, or the messy blond hair. Sure Chat was great, and if she had never fallen for Adrien she would have fallen for Chat. But now some small part of her was questioning even that.

    Chat was lost. For a second it had been so wonderful being so close to Marinette. A part of him feared that if they hadn’t moved away he didn’t know what he’d do. He rarely got to interact with Marinette, wither as Chat Noir or Adrien, but she was still amazing. But it was so strange, he really hadn’t meant to pull her on top of him, but now he wasn’t so sure. The way she had looked when he’d thrown that first piece of cloth had just reminded him too much of his own lady. He couldn’t be sure if it was just missing her on patrol or something else. Chat rolled over onto his stomach looking at the trap door, wondering what had happened in that moment, when it swung open, revealing Marinette with a tray of cookies and milk.